I was wondering how everyone determines their times to dive? I have an app for my tides but it doesn't show projected slack tide. I can't find anything that gives me that info quickly or user friendly. Any thoughts or suggestions?
I am a Pacific Northwest diver - mostly in Oregon, but a couple of times a year in Washington/Hoodsport area. We use a local tide card (check on the computer beforehand, I don't know about "APPS) - Slack is the period of time around a high or low tide where the water isn't running much, but exactly how much "slack" depends on the local conditions (including rain flowing down a river or offshore storm conditions). Wherever you are going to dive you should talk with someone local and even better is to also dive with someone local.
Bay Diving - it really depends on the Bay and what you are trying to do - here are some examples.
In the Newport/South Beach/Waldport, Oregon areas - talk with South Beach Scuba.
Yaquina Bay/Newport, Oregon - I like to dive from the South Jetty and do 2 dives with the 1st dive at 1 hour before high, 2nd dive at high tide slack. I don't like low tide dives because I have to climb down on the slippery rocks. If you want a little adventure, you can dive a little earlier or later than high tide and get a drift dive - but I'd suggest you try the slack high tide first.
Alsea Crab Hole/Waldport, Oregon - Low tide slack and there is only time for 1 dive. It's a narrow channel and you don't want to get swept up the river or out to sea! Besides, you can't catch crabs if you're trying to keep yourself from being banged into rocks, or even worse is getting entangled in crab pot lines!!!
Alsea Crab Dive/a bit upriver - 2 dives, usually 1st one hour before high and 2nd on high tide. A bit of a drift in the wider bay lets you go by the crabs and pick them up on the way.
Hoodsport, Washington/Sundrock, Mike's Beach, Octopus Hole, etc. - We aren't too bothered by the tides, but some critters are more likely seen on certain tides. Talk with Hood Sport and Dive.
Open Ocean - Tide doesn't bother us much when were offshore a bit.